- Simple Gameplan
- Camarrilo’s Breakout Season
- Swagger
- It Ain’t No Thing
- 9-0
- Injured
- Arbitration
- Opposition Research
- 1994
- Tonight
- OnDemand
- Twitter Chat
SIMPLE GAMEPLANM
The gameplan for the Vikings this Sunday should be simple.
Defense: Stop the rushing attack of Ronnie Brown and Rickey Williams and then get after quarterback Chad Henne.
Though this is his third season, Henne is essentially a sophomore having thrown only 12 passes in his rookie season of 2008, so his inexperience should serve us well. Henne threw 14 picks to 12 TDs last year and took 26 sacks. He was sacked three time last week by the Bills.
I imagine we’ll bring some pressure and try and stuff their biggest receiving threat, Brandon Marshall, at the line.
Offense: It will be interesting to see if the Vikings try and shove the ball down the Dolphins throats. The Fins will be without one starting defensive lineman and possibly one of their starting linebackers, so that may bode well for both the running game and the intermediate passing game.
It could be a big day for Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Greg Camarillo and Visanth(e) Shiancoe. If the Dolphins bring the heat on Favre, he’ll have some inexperience to pick on with second year men Chris Clemons at free safety and left cornerback Vontae Davis. And then there’s Benny Sapp, who I think is underrated, but for whom Favre no doubt knows his weaknesses.
CAMARILLO’S BREAKOUT SEASON
I said shortly after the Vikings acquired Greg Camarillo that he was in for a monster year with Brett Favre tossing him the ball.
A sure-handed receiver who runs precise routes and works the middle of the field? With Brett Favre throwing to him? It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out he’s gonna see a lot of touches this season, especially with Sidney Rice on the shelf for half the season or more.
Not surprisingly, Camarillo is the focus of much of the reporting in both cities. Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was asked about him, and said “He’s money. It seems like every time we needed a big play or needed a first down, the ball was in the air and it was going to him. You pretty much know it’s a catch.”
We barely caught a glimpse of Camarillo last Thursday so it remains to be seen how much he’ll be worked into the offense Sunday.
Obviously, he knows the Dolphins rather intimately and his former teammates know him quite well, so maybe that’s a wash. But they know him with Chad Henne, Chad Pennington, and Tyler Thigpen throwing him the ball, not Brett Favre.
I’m anxious to see more of Camarillo. A lot more. And I don’t just mean as a punt returner.
SWAGGER
That’s what Dolphins coach Tony Sparano likes about nickleback Benny Sapp. That’s what I liked about him, too.
IT AIN’T NO THING
Speaking of swagger, Vikings defensive end Jared Allen ain’t losing sleep over the Dolphins vaunted Wildcat offense.
“You know, the Wildcat was cool like three years ago when they broke it out,” Allen joked, according to Vikings.com. “But no, there’s enough film on it now to where you can study it. Just like anything, if fundamentally you’re sound then it really doesn’t matter who has the ball or how they get it. Eventually, you have to find the ball and make the tackle.”
9-0
The Vikings home record last year. The Pioneer Press>’ Brian Murphy provides some reasons why the Vikes are so dominant at home and also some compelling evidence for why it’s in the league’s best interests to ensure the team does not move: They sell out home games.
INJURED
Vikings: the following players were listed as limited participants – CB Chris Cook (knee), CB Cedric Griffin (knee), WR Percy Harvin (hip — I know, WTF??), DT Jimmy Kennedy (knee) and LT Bryant McKinnie (finger – SEE it…IT’S GROSS) . QB Brett Favre (ankle/back), RB Toby Gerhart (knee) and C John Sullivan (calf) were full participants.
Dolphins: DE Ikaika Alama-Francis (illness), LB Channing Crowder (groin) and DE Jared Odrick (ankle) did not participate in practice.
ARBITRATION
At 9 AM this morning San Diego Chargers disgruntled wide receiver Vincent Jackson will have a hearing before an arbitrator to determine the length of his suspension, whether he will sit out three or six games. If the arbitrator rules in favor of Jackson, that, of course, would make him a far more attractive pickup for the Vikings. Star Tribune‘s Judd Zulgad has a great recap with all the deets.
OPPOSITION RESEARCH
Minnesota Vikings Chat has got your back. You want to know what the Hated Opponent is saying about Your Minnesota Vikings? Go to Minnesota Vikings Chat to find out.
1994
Your Throwback Thursday video today features highlights from the Vikings’ 1994 season. Under center is Warren Moon and with him in the backfield is some awesome depth: Terry Allen, Amp Lee, Robert Smith, Scottie Graham and David Palmer. Moon’s receiving options include Cris Carter, Jake Reed, and Quadry Ismail. Randall McDaniel, Todd Steussie, and Chris Hinton protect and pave the way up front.
On defense, John Randle and Hank Thomas man the line with Jack Del Rio, Ed McDaniel and Carlos Jenkins filling out the front seven. Vencie Glenn and rookie DeWayne Washington patrol the skies.
On the sidelines you’ve got Dennis Green, Brian Billick and Tony Dungy calling the shots. [Watch.]
TONIGHT
The Mall of America hosts The Jared Allen Show tonight from 6:30 to 8 PM at the West Market Square
ON DEMAND
Comcast is featuring the NFL Network replay of the 2008 match up of the Vikings hosting the Green Bay Packers.
And if you care…the Vikings loss to the Saints is also available.
TWITTER CHAT
Join us on Twitter every Saturday at 11 a.m. for the Minnesota Vikings Twitter Chat, using the #VikingsChat hashtag. visit the #VikingsChat page for more details.